The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1887-10-20
The Dexter Bank.


BE IMPLICATED.
The New York World is authority for an en-
tirely new explanation of the great mystery
surrounding the robbery of the Dexter, Me-,
Bank and the fate of its Cashier, J. W. Barron,
In February, 1878. No New England crime is
better known than this, and none excited great
or public interest by reason of the dispute over
the manner in which the cashier met his death.
The bank officers and some others believe the
cashier was Il defaulter, and that he arranged
all the evidence of robbery and assault on
himself in order to explain the shortage. 1t
was argued that he either intended to commit
suicide or that his self-inflicted injuries were
more serious than he intended and produced
fatal result. Certain errors which it was as
serted the books contained, and the fact that
only a few dollars and an unnegotiabe bond
were missing from all the treasure in the
vaults, were the principal circumstances bear
ing out this theory. Barron's friends and many
others have always held the opinion that the
crime was just what ii appeared to bc-robbery
and murder.
The story which is now told bears out the
latter theory. 1t is based upon confession
said to have been made by young man named
Charles Francis Stain, who says he was one of
the gang of SIX that went to Dexter to rob the
bank. His associates were his father. who was
ut the head of the gang, men named Cromwell,
Andrews, Thompson and keely. The impor-
tant part of young stains confession is as fol-
lows:
'While waited with the team at Bingham,
and next day AZ Scion, Cromwell and father
went into DeXter and made reconnaissance of
the Bank. Andrews, Thompson and keev had
made impressions of all the outside and inside
doors of the building, which contained both the
national and savings banks, several private Of
fees and Masonic hall in the top story. Dur
Ing the day the building was almost entirely
deserted, and father and the rest of the gang,
by means of their skeleton keys. entered the
building and made a tour of inspection.
During the forenoon Billy Scott entered the
building by means of skeleton key and took
position in the Masonic hall in the top of the
building where he could watch those who came
in and out of the building. While Scott was on
watch in the Masonic hall, father and Cromwell
were in an Office which Andrews had taken
right opposite the bank lie pretended 10 be
an agent for Connecticut firm. Scott remain
ed on watch all day in Masonic hall. and father,
Cromwell and Andrews kept close in tie lat
ter's office across the way. They saw Il man go
into the building. He was All insurance agent
who had an office there. in a short time the
Insurance agent came out again, and, as they
supposed, everything was clear. In some way,
however, Cashier Barron had entered the build
ing during the day unobserycd.
Afte' the insurance agent left his office father
and Cromwell came down from Andrews bo-
gus office across the street, let themselves into
the bank building by their false keys. and lock-
ed the door after them. They proceeded up
stairs. Father produced key, opened door
Witch ,eu hito tHe p'iih' anu, "nSi lucy nao
entered, locked tIe uoor again. ms was lhe
u t'e toG,' u .ne naiti anu ia.ie. Malhea
room.
ne put MS ,liliiu 10 ,nc hiio'.' opeHeu tie
NO. anu Sn'ueh's stooo lace 10 iace WIN
treasurer barron, VINO al tne same moment
,ao Ms iiiiu on liie hlop On inc othel siie OH
ms way Iack from the Goai Giosel, carrying a
tnt o.leri Ansta!' a,'4 M,' no wore;
iather p9iieu Il sung Shot from ms pocket ana
saluoh MI. palioii on .hc I'siil slne VI inc
tatt "IiI IN i'io!le. iiioiel
ih,ner s,luch mn a . PIC" Nun ihe SUM
. on .''e 1op VI ,lle hG', anu narioli zen 10
ane 100. . ne was iiot, however unconscious;
anu tlieu W iise' WIN i",noi eapeu iol"aIu
anu anu s'lueh mn .nilu pi9W, asaih Oh tLG
h;'', ~ thnaa ..en ,uleu ioi
mn W tne .i1l9at: sluhs hoost around ms
iieSH any Pu.leu I'M. Mnie iathel ioIce. Il
sas nv iue lost,a.I man Tioutn tliu hhotteu
~ az .Ie pasA a. ms neai. ne. lllen proceed
81 ~ a., A"husun us hanus pen,nu ms uach anu
'a,u .ne anIeui Nc. on iiie lloor nel,iiu nun.
n .is .'iie ie was uiieolisoous. Iathei tooh
inta III; Au.s ilo MS poThe, ana .,rusi 'leil1
ny ny MS omn poohe'; men Nloiliweli anu
a. iiitu Dai .aiiie., nm ilo
;r Tue 'dal. anu ,u nm On 'ne noor ne great
iron uool 1l one OF lne saIes was open, but
n.i,n;r ta.nei ~. SionMe.l u'leu 10 l'ahe ,li
GAail''ilatloh VI the contents oi the vault.
lucy n's,n! eioseu .ne door. fa,her dTcW
! narrons keys from MS pocket ana unlocked
.he money drawer IN me 'front.' room OF the
Dam. ne salneIeu up VIVA! ioose money tiere
was inere, ailiouitihg 10 niue less lhah S2oo'
n 1 lnlust f?VV poha, winch WIS lying IN the
u'awe!, lhto us poehet.
~ ~ 'iias ,ilDllieni Htott' WHO ilau nSen OH
Ma :' III Niasohio nan apo,e' hurried GOWN
s Ha.i "nu hnockeu az t,ie noor OF the pahk.
.v alne, anu Slonl"Ei notl tosetner ASKED
MnaIs Tue niat.er' Dllly: ne replied: I'm
aiIaiu solhet1ii1g Is wrong we mao petter get
o on, % nere; father uLloche! lhe DOOR ana
. .olu sou tnal ihey hao surprised baffoh IN
tne pahk! ana hau knocked nm down ana
sagSe9 INN. ocott salu lihlleulateiy' MY
. Mou, ooys, we've got 10 get OUT OF ms ana
there's no tllile 10 lose. eitner. his TRENDS or
;soH! Ny VIII pe around mere before long
looking Tor hln.' rather and Cromwell passed
do9r, ana win false Keys locked 1t after them
anu walked unconcernedly down the street.
Hcott iet niiliseii out OF the Dack window OF
inc Duiidlns ana joined the other two farther
GOWN the street. Andrews joined the three on
the street, anu they secrcted themselves some
Where III Dexter until after shutdown. The
thIee theh came Out OF Their hiding place and
got INTO wagon That was waiting for them,
anu were driven rapidly to Scion, arriving
thcre about midnight. l didn't arrive there
until O'Clock with my team. in accordance
with the orders given me by father. Cromwell
and Scott stayed at Selden Thompson's hotel at
Scion that night. L took father into my wagon
at O'Clock and drove to North Anson. The